Definition of Psychotherapy & Definitions of the Types of Psychotherapy I Provide
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is a therapy or treatment for one's emotional difficulties that is typically conducted by talking or conversing with a professional mental health provider, most often a psychotherapist. The psychotherapist assists clients in making positive changes and reducing intrusive symptoms that perpetuate the negative mood, thoughts, or behavior patterns. Psychotherapy is often referred to as "talk therapy".
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT): Cognitive-Behavior Therapy focuses on changing and restructuring distorted thoughts in order to effect change in one's mood, behavior, and experience of physiological symptoms/sensations. This model recognizes that making any change in this cycle can lead to improve mood and a decline in distorted thinking and therefore interventions also focus on changing behavior and managing physiological symptoms/sensations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a form of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy that further emphasizes application of mindfulness skills, principles of learning and conditioning, and the role the primary dialectic of changes vs acceptance plays in maintaining one's struggle with mood regulation vs improving one's ability to regulate mood. The term dialectic refers to the synthesis or integration of opposites. Dialectical Behavior Therapy emphasizes the importance of learning skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance and the classic DBT model emphasizes the importance of both skills group where the skills of DBT are taught and individual therapy in which the individual therapist assists a client in learning how to generalize and apply skills to the unique circumstances in his or her life. DBT, developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D of the University of Washington, in order to effectively treat Borderline Personality Disorder and those struggling to cease engagement in self-harming behaviors, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors. In addition to being the gold standard for treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder research is proving this to be an effective therapy modality for a wide range of mental health issues to include though not necessarily limited to: chronic struggles with mood regulation/mood disorders, eating disorders and substance use disorders.
Types of Mental Health Professionals
LICSWs, LMHCs, & LMFTs
Mental health professionals have varied credentials and training backgrounds and this can complicate the process of finding a therapist that is right for you. Generally speaking, the most important thing to know about your mental health practitioner is to know whether he or she is a licensed mental health practitioner or if not licensed and is what is generally referred to as an "associate", is that practitioner currently supervised by an approved supervisor who is licensed. In all cases the practitioner must have completed a master's degree from an accredited university in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or counseling education. After completing a master's degree the licensed clinician is required to work under the direction of an approved licensed supervisor as part of that provider's post-graduate training program. Though licensing requirements vary by state and by the type of license a clinician is seeking, master's level therapists (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs); Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs); and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) have completed at least 2-4 years of post-graduate supervised clinical experience. Additionally to obtain licensure passing a board examination is required.
For the most part, LICSWs, LMHCs, and LMFTs do the same type of work and provide similar services. What is most important for clients is generally to find a therapist with whom you can develop a good working relationship and who can offer the type(s) of treatment interventions that are needed. Clinicians with these credentials are able to assess and diagnosis and can treat individuals, families/couples, and groups. Like any health professional, some may have specialized skill sets and training in addressing specific client populations. LMFTs do receive as part of their training specialized training in work with couples and families. LICSWs are the only master's level clinicians who may be eligible to see clients with Medicare.
Other Types of Mental Health Professionals
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP): A Licensed Clinical Psychologist has completed a doctoral degree (Ph.D or PsyD) from accredited university and post-doctoral training as dictated by the doctoral training program. The licensed clinical psychologist has completed supervised post-doctoral clinical training and completed a board exam to obtain licensure. Clinical psychologists also have training and expertise in conducting psychological testing, to possibly include neuropsychological testing. Clinical psychologists are trained in providing psychotherapy services to individuals, families/couples, and groups though specific specialization and clinical interest areas vary by provider based on additional training the provider may have.
Psychiatrist: A medical doctor, MD or DO, with a specialty in evaluating/assessing for psychological conditions, assigning diagnosis as clinically indicated, and in the prescription of medication to treat psychological conditions. Though some psychiatrists in private practice may offer psychotherapy services, at the present time, most psychiatrists focus solely on managing medications for psychiatric conditions and refer clients to a psychotherapist (LICSW/LCSW, LMHC/LPC, LMFT, or LCP) for ongoing psychotherapy work.
Note: Depending on the state a provider is practicing in, a clinical social worker who is practicing independently may be a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). These licenses are equivalent and differ only in name. The same is true of the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is a therapy or treatment for one's emotional difficulties that is typically conducted by talking or conversing with a professional mental health provider, most often a psychotherapist. The psychotherapist assists clients in making positive changes and reducing intrusive symptoms that perpetuate the negative mood, thoughts, or behavior patterns. Psychotherapy is often referred to as "talk therapy".
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT): Cognitive-Behavior Therapy focuses on changing and restructuring distorted thoughts in order to effect change in one's mood, behavior, and experience of physiological symptoms/sensations. This model recognizes that making any change in this cycle can lead to improve mood and a decline in distorted thinking and therefore interventions also focus on changing behavior and managing physiological symptoms/sensations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a form of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy that further emphasizes application of mindfulness skills, principles of learning and conditioning, and the role the primary dialectic of changes vs acceptance plays in maintaining one's struggle with mood regulation vs improving one's ability to regulate mood. The term dialectic refers to the synthesis or integration of opposites. Dialectical Behavior Therapy emphasizes the importance of learning skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance and the classic DBT model emphasizes the importance of both skills group where the skills of DBT are taught and individual therapy in which the individual therapist assists a client in learning how to generalize and apply skills to the unique circumstances in his or her life. DBT, developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D of the University of Washington, in order to effectively treat Borderline Personality Disorder and those struggling to cease engagement in self-harming behaviors, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors. In addition to being the gold standard for treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder research is proving this to be an effective therapy modality for a wide range of mental health issues to include though not necessarily limited to: chronic struggles with mood regulation/mood disorders, eating disorders and substance use disorders.
Types of Mental Health Professionals
LICSWs, LMHCs, & LMFTs
Mental health professionals have varied credentials and training backgrounds and this can complicate the process of finding a therapist that is right for you. Generally speaking, the most important thing to know about your mental health practitioner is to know whether he or she is a licensed mental health practitioner or if not licensed and is what is generally referred to as an "associate", is that practitioner currently supervised by an approved supervisor who is licensed. In all cases the practitioner must have completed a master's degree from an accredited university in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or counseling education. After completing a master's degree the licensed clinician is required to work under the direction of an approved licensed supervisor as part of that provider's post-graduate training program. Though licensing requirements vary by state and by the type of license a clinician is seeking, master's level therapists (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs); Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs); and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) have completed at least 2-4 years of post-graduate supervised clinical experience. Additionally to obtain licensure passing a board examination is required.
For the most part, LICSWs, LMHCs, and LMFTs do the same type of work and provide similar services. What is most important for clients is generally to find a therapist with whom you can develop a good working relationship and who can offer the type(s) of treatment interventions that are needed. Clinicians with these credentials are able to assess and diagnosis and can treat individuals, families/couples, and groups. Like any health professional, some may have specialized skill sets and training in addressing specific client populations. LMFTs do receive as part of their training specialized training in work with couples and families. LICSWs are the only master's level clinicians who may be eligible to see clients with Medicare.
Other Types of Mental Health Professionals
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP): A Licensed Clinical Psychologist has completed a doctoral degree (Ph.D or PsyD) from accredited university and post-doctoral training as dictated by the doctoral training program. The licensed clinical psychologist has completed supervised post-doctoral clinical training and completed a board exam to obtain licensure. Clinical psychologists also have training and expertise in conducting psychological testing, to possibly include neuropsychological testing. Clinical psychologists are trained in providing psychotherapy services to individuals, families/couples, and groups though specific specialization and clinical interest areas vary by provider based on additional training the provider may have.
Psychiatrist: A medical doctor, MD or DO, with a specialty in evaluating/assessing for psychological conditions, assigning diagnosis as clinically indicated, and in the prescription of medication to treat psychological conditions. Though some psychiatrists in private practice may offer psychotherapy services, at the present time, most psychiatrists focus solely on managing medications for psychiatric conditions and refer clients to a psychotherapist (LICSW/LCSW, LMHC/LPC, LMFT, or LCP) for ongoing psychotherapy work.
Note: Depending on the state a provider is practicing in, a clinical social worker who is practicing independently may be a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). These licenses are equivalent and differ only in name. The same is true of the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).